The 3/50 Project

[betts]

The 3/50 Project ::: Home

This is a cool concept. I read about it in one of our local magazines. It is based on the fact that (according to the U.S. Department of Labor), if just half the employed U.S. population spent $50 each month in independently owned businesses, their purchases would generate more than 42.6 billion in revenue. According to the site, for every $100 spent on an independently owned store, $68 returns to the community.

So, they are asking people to select three independently owned businesses and spend $50 a month in them.

[lasomeday]

It is a great idea. The only problem is most Oklahomans spend their money at chains. They don't have as much pride in local businesses as other areas of the country have.

In Oregon everyone is pretty aware of the local businesses and support them. I wish Okahoma had the same support.

[Spartan]

Even "cultured" Oklahomans usually chose Barnes & Noble over Full Circle, which is just shameful. OKC has some GREAT local businesses.

The city should especially push for something like this on the south side..

[Steve]

Let's see now: Full Circle has warm fireplaces, often features live music on weekends, the best book selection in the city (and without a doubt the best LOCAL book section), a great children's area and people who KNOW books.
Barnes and Noble, Borders, well, ... they don't.

[Spartan]

Full Circle actually provides an "experience" rather than just going to buy something. It reminds me of a smaller version of Book People in Austin, one of the greatest local businesses of all time.

[betts]

This holds true for local restaurants as well. I'm all about eating at restaurants that are unique to Oklahoma City. If you shop on Western and in Nichols Hills Plaza, there are lots of local stores.

[Spartan]

You can just pick up a copy of the Gazette and it will easily point you in the direction of a great nearby local restaurant.

[lasomeday]

Yeah, local restaurants are a no brainer. It is the local retail that really struggles here in OKC. I know that there aren't a lot of options because chains have run a lot of business out.


I know my favorite bookstore is a Powell Books in Portland. I love going there.

[mugofbeer]

I totally agree with the idea of buying from locally owned stores and also think the 3/50 rule is a reasonable number. This is why I have kind of chided some of the folks on here who get all happy when Chick-fil-a opens a new store they think it's big news. Personally, if OKC lost 50% of its fast food restaurants, I bet we'd hardly notice. How many flipping burger/chicken/taco joints does a city need?

No offense to Steve, but I stand by what I have said before. The DOK and their outrageous advertising rates have done more harm to small businesses in this city than anything else. Yes, I know all papers are having financial troubles these days but this has gone on ever since the OK Journal folded.

[Spartan]

Yeah, local restaurants are a no brainer. It is the local retail that really struggles here in OKC. I know that there aren't a lot of options because chains have run a lot of business out.

You have a really good point. I know I will personally admit to being a little unfamiliar with locally owned clothing stores and stuff like that. I usually don't even buy clothes in Oklahoma honestly..

[jeffery581]

That would be great. However, most people like sending there money to China and Japan...

[jeffery581]

Oh and Korea

[Kerry]

Even chains are locally owned via franchising.

http://www.franchiseopportunities.com/

[CindaBaxter]

Even chains are locally owned via franchising.

Glad to see The 3/50 Project has made its way into an OKC discussion--every voice counts!

While franchises are typically (not always) owned by someone local, they aren't considered "locally owned independents" due to the amount of outside corporate support they get from the parent company. A few examples of the additional services available to franchise and chain store owners are legal advice, lease input, guidance on employee issues, special vendor programs, and marketing materials. When a national brand runs an magazine ad or television campaign, all franchises benefit. When their corporate name goes up on a store sign, it comes with an established consumer audience and name recognition.

A true independent carries the weight of all those responsibilities and more on their shoulders, alone, making them wholly responsible for every single decision and item their business touches. They're the epitome of "tough it out and make it work" American spirit.

The 3/50 Project seeks to support those amazing independent brick and mortar businesses--from gift shops to restaurants to dry cleaners to movie theaters--as they duke it out in a cluttered landscape of national and regional brand names with deeper pockets and corporate backing. It's that spirit, combined with the greater amount of revenue returned to the community, that makes them real superhero standouts in our eyes!

For more info and details about The 3/50 Project, please visit our site: The350Project.net. Be sure to check out the FAQ page too, where there's lots of great info about the ins and outs of what we do.

Here’s to big things ahead for all the little guys out there,

Cinda Baxter
Founder
The 3/50 Project
The 3/50 Project website

[metro]

Try Blue 7 for clothes.

[lasomeday]

Yeah last Christmas I made a point to get everyone gifts from local stores with products made in the US. It was almost impossible to find toys for kids.

I consider Hobby Lobby local so I did find two things there, that were made in the US. 99% of their stuff is made in China, so I got them craft stuff.

I ended up giving gift cards to local restaurants to the adults, and yes I gave grandma gift cards to Braum's. It is local! That is where she hangs out.

I believe in supporting local chains like City Bites, Sonic, Braum's, etc.

I know there is a clothing store off of May and Memorial that is locally owned (I think it is called Lush) that my ex-girlfriend from Houston used to shop at. She loved it, and she was high maintenance! So, it has to have good stuff. I liked their jeans, but they are too pricey for me.

[betts]

There's a great toy store on Western just south of Wilshire called the learning tree. Western is loaded with locally owned stores that carry clothing and housewares, all the way from Wilshire to 36th. North Park Mall has quite a few locally owned stores, and the strip mall on the northwest side of May and 122nd has some as well.

[Spartan]

Glad to see The 3/50 Project has made its way into an OKC discussion--every voice counts!

While franchises are typically (not always) owned by someone local, they aren't considered "locally owned independents" due to the amount of outside corporate support they get from the parent company. A few examples of the additional services available to franchise and chain store owners are legal advice, lease input, guidance on employee issues, special vendor programs, and marketing materials. When a national brand runs an magazine ad or television campaign, all franchises benefit. When their corporate name goes up on a store sign, it comes with an established consumer audience and name recognition.

A true independent carries the weight of all those responsibilities and more on their shoulders, alone, making them wholly responsible for every single decision and item their business touches. They're the epitome of "tough it out and make it work" American spirit.

The 3/50 Project seeks to support those amazing independent brick and mortar businesses--from gift shops to restaurants to dry cleaners to movie theaters--as they duke it out in a cluttered landscape of national and regional brand names with deeper pockets and corporate backing. It's that spirit, combined with the greater amount of revenue returned to the community, that makes them real superhero standouts in our eyes!

For more info and details about The 3/50 Project, please visit our site: The350Project.net. Be sure to check out the FAQ page too, where there's lots of great info about the ins and outs of what we do.

Here’s to big things ahead for all the little guys out there,

Cinda Baxter
Founder
The 3/50 Project
The 3/50 Project website

That's a good point. Basically to get to the point of this, the reason they say 65% of the money you spend at a local business is put back in YOUR local economy is because all of these support services are gotten locally. If you're a franchise you aren't doing local advertising, your sign probably wasn't made locally, and so on. If your truly local, then chances are, so are your support services.

Local businesses support other local businesses that they usually make special business arrangements with. Chains tend to support other chains that they usually make special business arrangements with.

I'm not sure, but I think chains do still have some local benefit, but not as significant. Only 35-40% of the money you spend at a chain is turned over in the local economy, which is a huge difference. So yes, there is some benefit, but not as effectively. I seem to remember that from an editorial in the Austin Statesman about the "Keep Austin Weird" campaign.

[gracefor24]

That's a good point. Basically to get to the point of this, the reason they say 65% of the money you spend at a local business is put back in YOUR local economy is because all of these support services are gotten locally. If you're a franchise you aren't doing local advertising, your sign probably wasn't made locally, and so on. If your truly local, then chances are, so are your support services.

Local businesses support other local businesses that they usually make special business arrangements with. Chains tend to support other chains that they usually make special business arrangements with.

I'm not sure, but I think chains do still have some local benefit, but not as significant. Only 35-40% of the money you spend at a chain is turned over in the local economy, which is a huge difference. So yes, there is some benefit, but not as effectively. I seem to remember that from an editorial in the Austin Statesman about the "Keep Austin Weird" campaign.

However, a locally owned franchise is advertising locally at their own expense, hiring local employees, paying city/state/sales taxes. Not to mention they are pouring their own money back into the local economy since they are living here. The website says that those businesses bring $43 back to the community so it's not like they are adding nothing back.

I know it's not the same as a business start up that is locally owned but I don't think the idea is mutually exclusive. I think there is room for both. i have more of a problem with big box stores and such.

Either way this is a great campaign to get Oklahomans thinking about where their money goes and how to create a great local economy that encourages business and the entrepreneurial spirit.

[Spartan]

Franchises really don't do local advertising at their own expense though. That's part of the point of going with a franchise is that you're buying into the broader corporation's image that is the corporation's responsibility to promote.

I agree though that they're not BAD but they're not GREAT either. And yeah, it's with the big boxes, that you start adding other consumer ethics issues, not to mention planning issues especially..

[soonerguru]

This is a great idea. Good luck piercing Oklahomans' chain-store myopia though.

[Spartan]

Soonerguru, have I mentioned lately how much I always like your posts? "Oklahomans' chain-store myopia" - that's good.

[bmrsnrou]

my family and i have done this for a long time. i live in moore and try to spend my money at local businesses to keep my tax money here. there is the time when it is hard to avoid the chains, especially for clothing. with that said, we do make a concious effort to eat in locally owned restaurants, and grocery shop in local stores. also, i try and avoid wal mart at all costs. i just don't like the way they treat their workers.

[bmrsnrou]

This is a great idea. Good luck piercing Oklahomans' chain-store myopia though.

you are so right. however, it isn't much different anywhere else! the big boxes have pushed so many mom and pop operations out of business and killed main street shopping all over America, not just Oklahoma.

[mugofbeer]

I try and avoid wal mart at all costs. i just don't like the way they treat their workers.

I applaud efforts to try to shop locally, when possible. Unfortunately, its not always possible and unfortunately, the big box stores simply have prices that are so much better you can't avoid them. However, with the Wal Mart bashing that has taken place in these threads lately, I have to ask - have you personally ever known a Wal Mart employee who has had a real complaint about the company? I can't say that I have known many but the 3 I know have no complaints. Neither do they have great expectations from the company.